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November 17, 2011
BOARD OF SELECTMEN’S MEETING, THURSDAY NOVEMBER 17, 2011

In attendance:  Robert C. Sweeney, John M. Shields, J. Thomas Hurley, Kevin J. Mearn, Town Administrator, Paula Rizzi, Executive Secretary

1.      Chairman Sweeney convened the meeting at 6:30 p.m. at the Milton Senior         Center, 10 Walnut Street.       

2.      J. Thomas Hurley moved, John M. Shields seconded and the Board voted    unanimously to approve the November 3, 2011 meeting minutes as written.

3.      The Board confirmed November 29, December 8 and December 22, 2011 as
        future meeting dates.

4.      The Board met with Traffic Engineer Ken Kirwin and Acting Chief Engineer        Michael Misslin from the DCR to discuss the Neponset Valley Road/Brush Hill     Road Intersection.  Town Administrator Kevin Mearn gave a brief history of the  intersection and the problems it has presented as the amount of traffic in this area    has increased.  Also discussed was a citizen’s petition presented by the residents      of Fuller Village, community meetings that have been held and involvement by    the Brush Hill Road Neighborhood Association.  Mr. Misslin assured the Board    that the Commissioner of the DCR is interested in discussing all sides of the issue     and will work with the town toward a resolution of the problems presented by this       intersection.

5.      The Board met with the Executive Director of the Community Preservation         Coalition Stuart Saginor who presented an overview on the Community     Preservation Act.   Adopting this legislation would enable the town to create a         local fund dedicated to open space, historic preservation, community housing and        outdoor recreation projects.  Funding is generated through a surcharge of up to         3% on property tax bills and an annual disbursement of funds from the state     Community Preservation Trust Fund. Joseph Duffy, Chair of the Fair Housing       Committee, Ewan Innes, Chair of the Warrant Committee and Emily Innes,  Planning Board member each addressed Mr. Saginor regarding questions    pertinent to their committee.

6.      J. Thomas Hurley moved, John M. Shields seconded and the Board voted    unanimously to approve the following articles for inclusion in the January 30,  2012 Special Town Meeting and to close the warrant:

  • an article to address the Consolidated Facilities budget (submitted by the BOS)
  • an article to establish a Revolving Account for 334 Edge Hill Road (Submitted by the BOS)
  • an article to end Civil Service status for the Department of Public Works and School Custodians (Submitted by the BOS)
  • a Home Rule Petition article to authorize the Town to borrow money to fund public safety personnel medical expenses (submitted by the BOS)
  • an article to allow the Town to put the Community Preservation Act on the Annual Town Election ballot. (submitted by the BOS)
  • an article to approve a long term lease with the DCR for the Ulin Rink (submitted by the BOS)
  • an article to address a 2012 supplemental appropriation for Veterans’ Benefits (submitted by the BOS)
  • a Citizens Petition article requesting the appointment of a Town Government Study Committee
  • an article to transfer free cash to the Stabilization Fund (submitted by the Board of Selectmen)
7.      The Board discussed the East Milton Parking and Access Study recommendations and listened to input from residents Edward Duffy, Kenneth Caldwell and Christopher Petrik, Chairman of the Milton Chamber of Commerce.  All supported further study of this issue and were against converting the park area to parking space.  

        After discussion, J. Thomas Hurley moved, Robert C. Sweeney seconded and the Board voted 2-1-0 (Shields) to close Adams Street at the intersection of Bryant and Granite Avenue for a two to four week period to test the success of this traffic pattern.

8.      J. Thomas Hurley moved, John M. Shields seconded and the Board voted unanimously at 9:35 p.m.to temporarily adjourn the Board of Selectmen’s meeting to convene a meeting of the Trustees of the Governor Stoughton Fund.

9.      Chairman Sweeney reconvened the Board of Selectmen’s meeting at 9:45 p.m.

10.     John M. Shields moved, J. Thomas Hurley seconded and the Board voted    unanimously to approve the following 2012 liquor license renewals       contingent upon the receipt of all necessary certificates required by Chapter   304 (Acts of 2004) signed by the Building Inspector and the Fire Department:    American Legion Post #114, 123 Granite Avenue; Wollaston Golf Club, 999         Randolph Avenue; Central Liquor Mart, 26 Central Avenue; East Milton    Wine    and Spirits, 368 Granite Avenue; Esprit du Vin, 25 Central Avenue; Fruit Center,        110 Antwerp Street; Milton Hoosic Club, 193 Central Avenue; 88 Wharf, 88        Wharf Street; Fuller Village, 1372 Brush Hill Road; Fuller Village, 1399 Blue   Hill Avenue, Abby Park, 550     Adams Street, and to    approve Annual Sunday   Opening Permits for Central Liquor Mart, East Milton Wine & Spirits and         the     Fruit Center and permission for Esprit du Vin to sell alcoholic beverages on    Sundays between Thanksgiving and New Year’s.

        John M. Shields moved, J. Thomas Hurley seconded and the Board voted    unanimously to approve modified language on the Fuller Village (1372 Brush      Hill Road) license to include the addition of the words, “Milton Fuller         Housing Corporation” before the word “invitees”.

11.     John M. Shields moved, J. Thomas Hurley seconded and the Board voted    unanimously to approve the following 2012 Common Victualler’s license   renewals:  Radio Coffeehouse, 24 Central Avenue; Milton Youth Hockey,Ulin       Rink; Newcomb Farms, 1130 Randolph Avenue; LETHE, LLC(NewEngland)       d/b/a Bruegger’s Bagel Bakery; Sodexho Operations, LLC, 2 Granite Avenue;       Miltdun, LLC, d/b/a Dunkin Donuts, 545 Adams Street; The Milton House of        Pizza, 537 Adams Street, Mr. Chan’s Restaurant Group (Mozzarella’s), 538B       Adams Street, HoJarn, Inc, d/b/a Mr. Chan’s, 534 Adams Street; B&D Ichiro,      Inc., d/b/a Ichiro Sushi, 538A Adams Street; Marketplace Café, 110      Antwerp Street; Tino’s Pizza, 22 Central Avenue; Stella’s Luncheonette, 558     Adams Street; Starbuck’s Coffee, 552 Adams Street; G.H. Bent, 7 Pleasant        Street; Family Affair Catering, 81 Hazelton Street, Mattapan, 02026     (Houghton’s Pond); Abby Park, 550 Adams Street, 88 Wharf Restaurant, 88         Wharf Street, Fuller Village, 1372 Brush Hill Road; and Fuller Village 1399     Blue Hill Avenue.

12.     John M. Shields moved, J. Thomas Hurley seconded and the Board voted    unanimously to approve the following 2012 Entertainment License Renewals:       Abby Park, 550 Adams Street and 88 Wharf, 88 Wharf Street.

13.     J. Thomas Hurley moved, John M. Shields seconded and the Board voted    unanimously to approve and forward to the Warrant Committee the FY2013 Fire     Department budget in the amount of $4,628,495.

14.     J. Thomas Hurley moved, John M. Shields seconded and the Board voted    unanimously to approve the following changes in the Town’s health       insurance plans:

  • Effective January 1, 2012, all town employees and retirees (excluding teachers and retired teachers) shall pay twenty percent (20%) towards the cost of the health maintenance organization insurance coverage.
  • Effective January 1, 2012, copayments shall be increased to the following amounts:      
                        Physician office visits                         $20
                        Three tiered retail prescriptions               $10/$25/$45
                        Three tiered mail order prescriptions           $20/$50/$90
                        Emergency room (waived if admitted)     $100
  • No other plan design changes will be made for the period January 1, 2012 through and including December 31, 2014.
  • Effective January 1, 2012, the Town shall retain a third party administrator to administer a Section 125 Flexible Spending Plan for active employees.  The two accounts that shall be included in the Section 125 Plan shall be a Dependent Care Account (DECAP) and a Medical Care Account (MEDCAP).  The Town shall be responsible for paying any one-time set up costs associated with implementing the Section 125 Plan.  The Town shall pay any administrative fees for subscribers who opt into the Plan.  Employees may set aside funds up to the maximum amount permitted by the Internal Revenue Code.  Effective January 1, 2012, a debit card will be made available to participants in the MEDCAP Account.  The cost of the debit card will be paid by the Town.
  • In the event that the Town offers a Preferred Provider Organization (“PPO”) plan in the future, employees shall contribute twenty percent (20%) towards the cost of the health insurance premiums.
  • The employee contribution rate for the VIP 2000 and Medex 3 plans will remain at fifty percent (50%) of the cost of the health insurance premiums.
  • In the event that the Town enters the Group Insurance Commission (GIC), the amount that employees will be required to contribute towards the GIC plans shall be as follows:     HMO             15%
                                        PPO             15%                                                                     Indemnity       50%


15.     John M. Shields moved, J. Thomas Hurley seconded and the Board voted    unanimously to approve the appointment of Diane Colligan to the position of     Office Assistant in the Consolidated Facilities Department, effective November  28, 2011, subject to Personnel Board approval.

16.     J. Thomas Hurley moved, John M. Shields seconded and the Board voted    unanimously to amend Article V, Section 1, of the Traffic Rules and Regulations         so as to include the following:  Edge Hill Road – to be posted in front of #100,        which is the first house adjacent to the Collicot School – “NO PARKING M-F      7:30 – 8:30 a.m. and 2:00 – 3:00 p.m.

17.     J. Thomas Hurley moved, John M. Shields seconded and the Board voted    unanimously to approve a request from Friends of the Visual Arts to display     temporary signage (3’ x 3’) on the front lawn at 334 Edge Hill Road until       permanent signage can be approved and installed.

18.     John M. Shields moved, J. Thomas Hurley seconded and the Board voted    unanimously to approve the appointment of John Driscoll, 718 Randolph Avenue    and Carter Fahy, 21 Capen Street to the Solid Waste Advisory Committee to serve         through October 2012.

        John M. Shields moved, J. Thomas Hurley seconded and the Board voted    unanimously to approve the reappointment of the following members to the        Alternate Energy Committee to serve through November, 2012:  Henry MacLean,     Oliver Crichlow, Tara Manno Richer and John Barron Clancy.

        J. Thomas Hurley moved, John M. Shields seconded and the Board voted    unanimously to approve the reappointment of the following members to the Wind   Energy Committee to serve through November, 2012:  Richard Kleiman, Shaun       Pandit, Daryl M. Warner, Matthew Cammack and Kevin Chase.

19.     John M. Shields moved, J. Thomas Hurley seconded and the Board voted    unanimously to approve a grant of $500 from the Mary L. Peabody Fund for the    purchase of Christmas gifts for needy Milton residents.

20.     John M. Shields moved, J. Thomas Hurley seconded and the Board voted    unanimously to approve a request from the Department of Public Works unit       members of MPEA to continue its present hours of operation (7:00 a.m. to 3:30   p.m.) through June 30, 2012.

21.     John M. Shields moved, J. Thomas Hurley seconded and the Board voted    unanimously to approve the FY2012 Education Incentive for the Fire Department   in the amount of $86,753.50, which reflects 1,798 credits at $48.25 per credit.

22.     John M. Shields moved, J. Thomas Hurley seconded and the Board voted    unanimously to approve a request by the Milton Woman’s Club for a one day       liquor license for a fund raiser that will be held on November 26, 2011 from 7:00       to 11:00 p.m.

23.     John M. Shields moved, J. Thomas Hurley seconded and the Board voted    unanimously to appoint Kathleen Conlon, Robert Gatnik, John A. Cronin, Ewan     Innes and Leroy Walker to the Town Government Study Committee to serve  through October, 2012.

24.     Robert C. Sweeney moved, J. Thomas Hurley seconded and the Board voted  unanimously with Robert C. Sweeney voting yes, John M. Shields voting yes and   J. Thomas Hurley voting yes to enter Executive Session to discuss the purchase,         exchange, lease or value or real property and to discuss strategy with regard to        litigation, believing that having these discussions in Open Session would have a        detrimental effect on the bargaining/litigating position of the body and to return to   Open Session only for the purpose of adjournment.

25.     John M. Shields moved, J. Thomas Hurley seconded and the Board voted    unanimously to adjourn at 10:45 p.m.